The Differences Between Medical Marijuana and Recreational Marijuana

With recreational marijuana’s recent legalization in the state of New Jersey, we’re sure plenty of locals have some questions that they’d like answered.

There is one rather important question that doesn’t seem to be getting a ton of attention: what are the differences between recreational marijuana, which has just been legalized, and medical marijuana, which has been available to qualifying residents for over a decade now?

Some may think that the only real difference between medical marijuana and recreational marijuana is how New Jersey residents can access the two and the suggested purpose of them, but there’s a bit more to it than that.

In order to help you get a clearer picture of the distinctions between the two, we’ve created this quick and easy guide. We think you’ll find that understanding the nuances between recreational and medical marijuana is actually crucial to reaping the benefits you’re seeking from this incredible plant.

What Really Separates Medical from Recreational Marijuana?

If you’ve ever used cannabis for medical purposes, then you likely understand all of the good that it can potentially do for patients experiencing a vast array of health issues. You probably also know that that’s not all that it can do.

Cannabis offers a number of different benefits that may not be classified as medical, such as an uplifted mood, feelings of euphoria, a spike in creative thinking, and an altering of one’s perception.

Sure, these effects may serve their own therapeutic purposes, but they can also be enjoyed for no purpose other than enjoyment itself. Cannabis cultivated and sold for these purposes is going to be labeled “recreational,” while cannabis cultivated and sold for its potential health benefits is going to be labeled “medical.”

But the intent is not the only difference between the two. In fact, there are a number of other circumstances that make medical and recreational marijuana distinct from one another. The most significant among them have been listed below.

Legality

Yes, recreational marijuana was recently legalized in the state of New Jersey, but that doesn’t mean that the laws surrounding it are 1:1 with the laws regarding medical marijuana in the state.

New Jersey residents must be over the age of 21 to purchase, possess, and use recreational marijuana, while the age minimum for residents to potentially qualify for a medical marijuana card is actually 18.

In certain instances, qualifying candidates under the age of 18 are even eligible to gain access to medical marijuana under the supervision of a parent or guardian.

The list of qualifying conditions for a medical marijuana card includes:

• Chronic pain
• Migraines
• Muscular dystrophy
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Tourette syndrome
• ALS
• Seizure disorders
• Anxiety
• Glaucoma
• Cancer
• PTSD
• Terminal illness
• And more

If you’re over 18 but not yet 21, and you believe that medical marijuana may be beneficial to you, then simply contact Dr. T for an appointment. Should you qualify for your card, you’ll find that the new recreational laws have actually made taking advantage of medical marijuana easier and simpler than ever before.

Purchase Amount

There are different laws regarding the amount of marijuana you can purchase at one time, depending on whether it’s for recreational purposes or medical.

With recreational marijuana, you’re legally allowed to purchase up to one ounce of dried flower, up to 1000mg of ingestible products, or up to 5 grams of concentrates, resins, or oils.

With medical marijuana, cardholders are allowed to purchase up to 3 ounces of dried flower over a 30-day period, unless the patient is terminally ill, in which case there is no purchase limit.

Taxes

The way in which recreational and medical marijuana are each taxed is also different. Recreational marijuana is subject to the standard New Jersey 6.625% sales tax, along with a social equity excise fee of 1/3 of 1%, while medical marijuana’s tax is currently in the process of being phased out entirely.

Medical marijuana was once taxed at 6.625%, but as of July 1, 2020, it has been gradually decreased every six months, which will ultimately end with a 0% tax beginning on July 1, 2022.

Access

Anyone who tries to buy recreational marijuana in New Jersey will immediately notice one very big difference between their new local dispensary and a medical facility: the lines.

Recreational marijuana is open to all, and that means the wait times at recreational dispensaries can be more than an hour long. Medical dispensaries have NO lines, and that makes recreational cannabis far easier to access.

THC and CBD Content

While there are lots of practical differences between New Jersey’s recreational and medical systems, perhaps the most significant difference between these categories of marijuana is their chemical makeup.

The marijuana plant is full of chemical compounds known as cannabinoids. Cannabinoids interact with your body’s endocannabinoid system to produce the wide variety of effects that marijuana has to offer.

While there are well over 100 known cannabinoids in marijuana, there are two that are far more abundant than most others – THC and CBD.

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the cannabinoid that provides a majority of the psychoactive effects of the marijuana plant. In other words, it’s what gets you “high,” and therefore, it’s the primary focus of any recreational marijuana plant.

You’ll find that marijuana cultivated for recreational purposes generally has a significantly higher THC content than marijuana cultivated for medical purposes, a fact that can be easily identified by simply checking the labeled THC content of the product. High THC strains are generally about 20% THC or more.

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid that does not have psychoactive properties but does offer a wide variety of effects that can be potentially useful for a number of different conditions.

High CBD content in marijuana has been scientifically proven to have anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, and antipsychotic properties, to name a few. That’s why you’ll find that marijuana cultivated for medical purposes has a higher level of CBD than marijuana cultivated for recreational purposes.

Keep in mind that a medical marijuana patient would still be able to enjoy the more therapeutic effects of the plant with a higher THC content strain that’s deemed recreational.

Someone looking for pure enjoyment out of their marijuana would still potentially be able to get that from a higher CBD content medical strain, but for either of these users to get the best possible experience, they would want to aim for the strain designed for the purposes they’re seeking.